Powder Dispenser

ABSTRACT

A pump dispenser is arranged for dispensing solidous material under a manually-developed pressure, with the dispenser being capable of pumping and mechanically agitating the solidous material in a storage container. The resultant dispensed solidous fluid is provided with more consistent suspended solid concentrations with greater solid particle distribution homogeneity.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to dispensers generally, and moreparticularly to a dispenser with an arrangement for efficientlydispensing a solid particulate material, such as a powder, from within acontainer.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

While liquid manual pump and pressurized gas discharge dispensers havebeen widely implemented in a variety of applications, dispensers forsolid materials are less common. In addition to the obvious challenge ofincreased viscosities, surface friction, and specific weights ofsolidous materials in comparison to liquid materials, the design ofsolid material dispensing systems must also contemplate flowability anddistribution of the stored material in preparation for dispensation, aswell as effects on the flowability of the material in the presence orabsence of environmental conditions, such as the effect of moistureaccumulation in the solid material container over time. As a consequenceof these and other challenges, efforts to develop solid materialdispensers have been limited.

A particular shortcoming in the availability of conventional solidmaterial dispensers is an apparatus that is relatively inexpensive tomanufacture, so as to be useful in connection with the storage, sale,and dispensation of relatively inexpensive consumer products. Currentlyavailable solid material dispensers are either prohibitively expensiveto use in connection with low-cost consumer products, and particularlyas a disposable consumer product dispenser, and/or are ineffective inconsistently dispensing a desired quantity or quality of the solidmaterial.

One conventional approach in solid material dispensation relies uponpressurized gas to disperse the solidous particulate material into apseudo-suspension for uptake into outlet conduits. The pressurized gasmay be air that is pressurized through a manual pumping action by theuser, or may be air or another gas releasably stored under pressure in aseparate container. Pumping action by the user, or the selective releaseof pressurized gas from the separate container, or both, act to drivethe solidous material into one or more outlet conduits, and possibly aspartially suspended in the pressurized gas. Such a conventionalapproach, however, is inconsistent in delivering a known quantity of thesolid material to the outlet conduit, and is variable based upon thespecific weight of the product, the amount of the product remainingwithin the container, the flowability of the product, and changingcharacteristics of the product in the container over time. Moreover, theconventional systems which rely upon pressurized air to disperse anddistribute the solid material product have proven to be inadequate indispersing and consistently dispensing a known quantity and quality ofthe product.

It is therefore an object of the invention to provide a dispensermechanism for dispensing solvent particulate material, such as a powder,in a known quantity per pump cycle.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a solidparticulate material dispenser that effectively maintains a homogeneityof the discharge contents for each pump cycle.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a manualpumping mechanism for mechanically mixing the solidous material productin the container.

It is a still further object of the present invention to provide adispenser mechanism that is effective in limiting environmental exposureto the solidous material product in the container.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

By means of the present invention, solidous material may be dispensedwith consistent qualities and concentrations. A device for dispensingsuch solidous material may be economically manufactured, so as to beuseful in disposable and other relatively low-cost consumer productapplications.

In one embodiment, a pump dispenser of the present invention fordispensing material under a manually developed pressure includes acontainer defining a cavity for storing the material, and a pump bodypositionable in the cavity having a pump chamber, a pickup chamber, anda dispensation chamber. The pump body has a central axis definingmutually perpendicular axial and radial directions, and includes anintake opening communicating the cavity with the pickup chamber. Thepump dispenser includes a piston that is positioned at the pump chamber,and is slidably engaged to the pump body. The piston is axially movablein the pump chamber, and includes an air inlet aperture. An air intakevalve regulates airflow through the air inlet aperture of the piston.The pump dispenser further includes a manipulator removably secured tothe pump body at a manipulator portion, with the manipulator includingan arm with a distal end configured to cooperate with the intake openingfor passage of the material into the pickup chamber through the intakeopening. An actuator rod is axially movable to actuate the manipulator,and to thereby operate the manipulator arm.

In another embodiment, a pump dispenser of the present inventionincludes a container defining a cavity for storing a dispensablematerial, and a pump body positionable in the cavity and having a pumpchamber fluidly communicatable with a pickup chamber that is fluidlycommunicatable with a dispensation chamber. At least a portion of thedispensation chamber is defined by a lumen of a flexible resilientmember. The pump body further includes an intake opening communicatingthe cavity with the pickup chamber, and a central axis defining mutuallyperpendicular axial and radial directions. The flexible resilient membersealingly separates the dispensation chamber from the pump chamber, sothat the pump chamber is fluidly communicatable with the dispensationchamber only thorough the pickup chamber. The pump dispenser furtherincludes a piston positioned at the pump chamber, and slidably engagedwith the pump body. The piston is axially movable in the pump chamber ina first axial direction to force airflow into the pickup chamber to anextent sufficient to carry the dispensable material through thedispensation chamber.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1A is a cross-sectional view of a dispenser of the presentinvention in a top position;

FIG. 1B is a cross-sectional view of the dispenser illustrated in FIG.1A in a bottom position;

FIG. 2A is an enlarged cross-sectional view of a portion of thedispenser illustrated in FIGS. 1A and 1B during an upstroke portion of apump cycle;

FIG. 2B is an enlarged cross-sectional view of a portion of thedispenser illustrated in FIGS. 1A and 1B during a downstroke portion ofa pump cycle;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of a portion of the dispenserillustrated in FIGS. 1A and 1B;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of a portion of the dispenserillustrated in FIGS. 1A and 1B;

FIG. 5A is a side view of a portion of the dispenser apparatusillustrated in FIGS. 1A and 1B with a nozzle member in an opencondition;

FIG. 5B is a side view of a portion of the dispenser illustrated inFIGS. 1A and 1B with the nozzle member in a closed condition;

FIG. 6A is a cross-sectional view of a dispenser of the presentinvention in a top position;

FIG. 6B is a cross-sectional view of the dispenser illustrated in FIG.6A in a bottom position;

FIG. 7A is a cross-sectional view of a dispenser of the presentinvention in a top position;

FIG. 7B is a cross-sectional view of the dispenser illustrated in FIG.7A in a bottom position; and

FIG. 8 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of a portion of a dispenserof the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The objects and advantages enumerated above together with objects,features, and advances represented by the present invention will now bepresented in terms of detailed embodiments described with reference tothe attached drawing figures which are intended to be representative ofvarious possible configurations of the invention. Other embodiments andaspects of the invention are recognized as being within the grasp ofthose having ordinary skill in the art.

In the following description of the invention, the terms “top” and“bottom”, “upper” and “lower”, or similar related terms are used todescribe the component parts of the dispenser and their relativepositions. Such terms are used only with respect to the drawings, andshould not be considered limiting as to the absolute orientation of thecomponent parts in operation.

With reference now to the drawing figures, and first to FIGS. 1A and 1B,a pump dispenser 1 may be particularly suited for dispensing solidousmaterial under a manually-developed pressure. The solidous material maybe solid particulate matter that is dispersible into a suspension,pseudo-suspension, or mixture in air, so as to be dispensable under theforce of pressurized air as a suspension, dispersion, or mixture ofsolid matter in a moving air stream. In some embodiments, the solidousmaterial 21 may be talcum powder including hydrated magnesium silicateas foliated to fibrous masses with a specific gravity of 2.5-2.8 g/cm³.Other particles, crystals, fibers, minerals, agglomerates, compounds,and the like, however, are contemplated as being dispensable by pumpdispenser 1 of the present invention.

Pump dispenser 1 includes a container 12 defining a cavity 22 in whichsolidous material 21 may be stored and prepared for dispensation.Container 12 may be in the form of, for example, a plastic bottle havinga threaded neck portion 23 that cooperatively engages with a connector 6for securement of the pumping mechanism to container 12, as will bedescribed in greater detail hereinbelow. Container 12 may accordinglyassume a variety of configurations and materials suitable in thecontainment of solidous material 21.

Pump body 2 is positionable in container 12, and securable to neckportion 23 by being press fit between connector 6 and an upper edge 24of neck portion 23. In the illustrated embodiment, a resilient gasket 5assists in sealingly securing pump body flange 2 a to upper edge 24 ofneck portion 23. The threadable engagement of connector 6 to neckportion 23 desirably secures pump body 2 to container 12 in a sealedmanner.

Pump body 2 includes a pump chamber 26, a pickup chamber 28, and adispensation chamber 30. The operation of pump dispenser 1 provides formanually pressurized air flow to pass from pump chamber 26 to pickupchamber 28, and subsequently to dispensation chamber 30, and ultimatelyout through nozzle member 15 of cap 3. The operation of pump dispenser 1will be described in greater detail hereinbelow, and it is contemplatedthat one or more valves and the like may separate one or more of pumpchamber 26, pickup chamber 28, and dispensation chamber 30. However, inthe illustrated embodiment, pressurized air or other gas may becommunicated by the operation of pump dispenser 1 from pump chamber 26through pickup chamber 28 and dispensation chamber 30. Accordingly, thecombination of pump chamber 26, pickup chamber 28, and dispensationchamber 30 may be alternatively considered as a single fluidly connectedchamber. For the purposes of this description, however, portions of thepressurized air travel through pump dispenser 1 will be described as theabove-indicated chamber segments. It is to be understood that nospecific structure may define a transition from or between any of pumpchamber 26, pickup chamber 28, and dispensation chamber 30, with suchchambers being delineated herein for descriptive purposes only.

In the illustrated embodiment, pump chamber 26 communicates with pickupchamber 28 through a separation valve 20, which may be a one-way valvepermitting air flow into pickup chamber 28 from pump chamber 26 upon asufficient pressure drop from pump chamber 26 to pickup chamber 28. Anexample separation valve 20 is a check valve with a predeterminedopening force that opens only when a sufficient pressure differential iscreated between pump chamber 26 and pickup chamber 28. In mostembodiments, the force necessary to open separation valve 20 isrelatively small, in that the primary utility of separation valve 20 maybe to prevent backflow of air and/or solidous material 21 from pickupchamber 28 to pump chamber 26. Another utility of separation valve 20may be to provide a “burst” airflow from pump chamber 26 to pickupchamber 28, as a sudden pressurized airflow released from pump chamber26 upon exceeding the opening force of separation valve 20. Such a bustairflow into pickup chamber 28 may assist in dispersing solidousmaterial 21 into the moving airstream in pickup chamber 28 for passageof a solidous material/airflow mixture into dispensation chamber 30.

An intake opening 32 communicates cavity 22 with pickup chamber 28, andrepresents an opening through which solidous material 21 may be importedinto the air flow path for dispensation out from pump dispenser 1.Intake opening 32 may be positioned at or near base 14 of pump body 2,wherein the force of gravity will typically congregate solidous material21 near the bottom of cavity 22, in close approximation to base 14.Consequently, solidous material 21 may be available for introductionthrough intake opening 32 until solidous material 21 is nearly orcompletely exhausted from cavity 22. To be effective as an entry pointfor solidous material 21, intake opening 32 is preferably appropriatelysized and configured to permit an adequate loading rate of solidousmaterial 21 therethrough to accommodate dispersion of solidous materialinto the pressurized airstream at pickup chamber 28 at a desiredvolumetric concentration. In some embodiments, intake opening 32 mayhave an opening area of between about 10-100 mm², and more preferablybetween about 25-50 mm².

A connector portion 34 may constitute a transition from pickup chamber28 to dispensation chamber 30. In some embodiments, connector portion 34may be located at or near base 14, and directs pressurized airflowadjacently past intake opening 32 into dispensation chamber 30.

Pump body 2 has a central axis 36 that defines mutually perpendicularaxial and radial directions 37, 38. Pump body 2 may typically bearranged to facilitate pumping actuation generally along axial direction37, though alternative arrangements are contemplated by the presentinvention.

Pump dispenser 1 further includes a piston 4 that is slidably engaged topump body 2 so as to selectively generate pressurized air in pumpchamber 26 upon a downwardly axial movement of piston 4 with respect topump body 2. Piston 4 includes a piston head portion 40, a piston rodportion 42, and a piston seal portion 44 extending from piston headportion 40. Piston seal portion 44 is slidably engaged with, andpreferably makes an air-tight seal with side wall 18 of pump body 2defining a portion of pump chamber 26. Axial downward motion of piston 4into pump chamber 26, as illustrated in FIG. 1B, compresses air withinpump chamber 26, correspondingly increasing the air pressure within pumpchamber 26 to a level exceeding the opening force of separation valve20, as described above. Once open, separation valve 20 permitspressurized air to flow therethrough and into pickup chamber 28 fordispersion of solidous material 21 into a mixed airflow stream deliveredto dispensation chamber 30. The directional arrows depicted in FIG. 1Billustrate the pressurized airflow through pump chamber 26, pickupchamber 28, and dispensation chamber 30. In operation, piston sealportion 44 reciprocally moves up and down in slidable engagement withside wall 18 of pump body 2, as depicted in the relationship betweenFIGS. 1A and 1B. Piston 4 is in a top position 46 in FIG. 1A, and abottom position 48 in FIG. 1B. As will be described in greater detailhereinbelow, movement of piston 4 between top position 46 and bottomposition 48 drives the operation of pump dispenser 1 in collecting anddispensing a solid product mixture under pressure.

Piston head portion 40 includes an air inlet aperture 50 that isregulated by an air intake valve 7 to selectively permit passage of airfrom an exterior environment into pump chamber 26. An enlarged view ofpiston head portion 40 and air intake valve 7 is illustrated in FIGS. 2Aand 2B, with FIG. 2A representing an “upstroke” of piston 4 resulting inair intake valve 7 permitting air flow into pump chamber 26, and FIG. 2Billustrating the “downstroke” of piston 4 in which air intake valve 7prevents air from escaping from pump chamber 26 through air inletaperture 50. The upward axial movement of piston 4 during the upstrokeportion of a pumping cycle is denoted by directional arrow 52, and theaxially downward motion of piston 4 in the downstroke portion of thepumping cycle being illustrated in FIG. 2B and represented bydirectional arrow 54. During the upstroke portion of the pumping cycleillustrated in FIG. 2A, upward axial movement of piston 4 driven by aspring bias force creates a reduced pressure environment in pump chamber26 as the volume of pump chamber 26 expands. The reduced pressureenvironment within pump chamber 26 creates pressure differential withrespect to the ambient, thereby developing a force that pushes valve tip56 away from a boundary wall 41 of piston head portion 40. Thedisplacement of valve tip 56 from boundary wall 41 is also driven by theair pressure differential between the exterior environment and thereduced pressure environment within pump chamber 26. The relativepositive pressure applied against valve tip 56 displaces it away fromcontact with boundary wall 41. Such displacement permits the entry ofair through air inlet aperture 50 and around valve tip 56 into pumpchamber 56, as illustrated in FIG. 2A.

Downward axial movement of piston 4 during the downstroke of the pumpcycle illustrated in FIG. 2B creates an increased pressure environmentwithin pump chamber 26 as a result of the reduced volume within pumpchamber 26. The increased pressure within pump chamber 26 forces valvetip 56 against boundary wall 41 in an air sealing manner to preventescape of air out through air inlet aperture 50. Air intake valve 7therefore acts as a one-way valve to permit air entry through air intakeaperture 50 during the upstroke of piston 4, but prevents the escape ofair from pump chamber 26 during the compression downstroke portion ofthe pumping cycle. Various valving arrangements for manual pumpingsystems are well known in the art, and a variety of configurationstherefore are contemplated as being useful in the present invention.

In one aspect of the present invention, one or more manipulators 19 maybe pivotally secured to pump body 2 at a manipulator pivot 60. While theillustrated embodiment depicts two manipulators 19 pivotally secured topump body 2 about respective manipulator pivots 60, it is contemplatedthat one or more such manipulators 19 may be incorporated with pumpdispenser 1, and that various mechanisms may be employed for actuating amechanical motion to manipulators 19. In the illustrated embodiment,manipulators 19 include a manipulator arm 62 extending from amanipulator head 64 and a distal end 66 that is configured to cooperatewith intake opening 32 of pump body 2 for the passage of solidousmaterial 21 into pickup chamber 28 through intake opening 32. In someembodiments, manipulator 19 may be arranged to open and close access tointake opening 32 in sequence with the pumping cycle applied to piston4, and to also perform a mechanical motion that aids in the distributionof solidous material 21 into a relatively homogenous mass, and with acharacteristic that facilitates collection and uptake through intakeopening 32. For example, solidous material 21 may have the tendency tosettle under the force of gravity into a relatively non-flowable mass,and may further naturally settle under the force of gravity into anon-homogeneous particle size/specific weight distribution. Bydisturbing the mass of solidous material 21 prior to loading/intake ofsolidous material 21 to pickup chamber 28, it is more likely that a morehomogeneous sample of solidous material 21 may be collected fordispensation from pump dispenser 1. Manipulators 19 may therefore act asdisturbing/agitating members for mixing and distributing the mass ofsolidous material in container 12. It is also contemplated, however,that manipulators 19 may assist in loading pickup chamber 28 with avolume of solidous material 21 by, in effect, “pushing” solidousmaterial 21 into pickup chamber 28 through intake opening 32. In somecases, the mechanical action of manipulators 19 may act to provide aconsistent loading volume and/or mass of solidous material 21 intopickup chamber 29 through intake opening 32. One aspect of the presentinvention is the enhanced ability of pump dispenser 1 to collect anddispense a known quantity of solidous material 21 in each pumping cycle.Moreover, by repeatedly agitating solidous material 21, manipulators 19may aid in providing a consistent sample quality or homogeneity topickup chamber 28 in each pumping cycle. In this manner, pump dispenser1 advantageously is capable of dispensing a more consistent quantity andhomogeneity of solidous material 21 in each pumping cycle, as comparedto conventional dispensing devices.

To actuate manipulators 19, an actuator rod 17 may be axially movable toactuate manipulators 19 about respective manipulator pivots 60, tothereby pivotally operate manipulator arms 62 to agitate, disperse, andcollect solidous material 21.

Piston 4 is axially movable with respect to pump body 2 against a firstbias member 8 which, in the illustrated embodiment, is a coil spring.First bias member is placed into pump dispenser 1 under axialcompression to establish a bias force urging piston 4 axially upwardlyalong direction 37 toward top position 46. First bias member 8 may beplaced in axial compression between the pump chamber base platform 68and a piston head platform 70. As illustrated in FIG. 1B, for example,first bias member 8 is in axially expansive contact with both baseplatform 68 and piston head platform 70 urging piston 4 axially upwardlywith respect to pump body 2, with pump chamber base platform 68 bearingagainst, connected to, or integrally formed as a part of pump body 2.Actuation of piston 4 in the downstroke portion of the pump cycle musttherefore overcome the bias force generated by first bias member 8.

The generation of a downward force applied against piston 4 may beoriginated by the user at cap 3, wherein downward pressure upon cap 3 istransmitted to piston rod portion 42 at cap shoulder 72 and/or cap endedge 74. Contact made between cap shoulder 72 and/or cap end edge 74with piston rod portion 42 of piston 4 transmits the downward forceapplied to cap 3 by the user to piston 4. Such downward force overcomesthe bias force of first bias member 8 to move piston 4 axiallydownwardly in the downstroke portion of the pump cycle.

Actuator rod 17 is axially responsive to the moving force applied topiston 4 through cap 3, as described above. The downward moving forcemay be applied to actuator rod 17 by piston rod portion 42 of piston rod4 at an interface between piston rod shoulder 76 and actuator rod head78. In the illustrated embodiment, actuator rod 17 is thereby axiallymovable in dispensation chamber 30 as a result of the applied downwardmoving force from cap 3 and piston 4.

Actuator rod 17 is therefore movable axially downwardly throughdispensation chamber 30 to contact and actuate manipulator head 64 aboutits respective pivot 60. The actuation of manipulators 19 is illustratedin isolation in FIG. 3. As actuator rod 17 is axially moved downward inthe downstroke as described above, end portion 80 of actuator rod 17contacts manipulator tabs 65 extending from manipulator head 64.Continued downward movement of actuator rod 17 actuates manipulators 19by pushing manipulator tabs 65 downwardly to cause the respectivemanipulator heads 64 to pivot about their respective manipulator pivots60. Such pivoting motion, as described above, causes manipulator arms 62to move outwardly from pump body 2 along an arcuate path aboutrespective pivot axes 61 extending through manipulator pivots 60. In theillustrated embodiment, pivot axis 61 is substantially perpendicular tocentral axis 36. However, it is contemplated that other relationshipsmay be employed to effectuate a desired movement of manipulators 19 inagitating and manipulating solidous material, 21 in cavity 22.

Actuation of manipulators 19 about their respective pivot axis 61 actsagainst a restorative force generated by a second bias member 13 which,in the illustrated embodiment, is a coil spring placed under axialcompression between a pump body platform 82 and manipulator tabs 65.Downward force applied from actuator rod 17 to manipulator tabs 65therefore acts against the restorative urging force of second biasmember 13. When downward pressure against manipulator tabs 65 isreleased, a restorative urging force of second bias member 13 pushesmanipulator tabs 65 upwardly in an opposite pivotal direction to bringmanipulator arms back toward a closed position 84, as illustrated inFIG. 1A. Such a closed position orients distal ends 66 of manipulatorarm 62 over intake openings 32. Thus, distal ends 66 may at leastpartially cover intake opening 32 when manipulator arm 19 is in closedposition 82.

As described above, manipulator arms 62 are arranged to open and closein response to the pumping action of pump dispenser 1. An open position86 of manipulators 19 is illustrated in FIG. 3. As described above, onefunction of manipulators 19 is to agitate and distribute solidousmaterial 21 to create a more homogenous mass of solidous material 21 forentry into pickup chamber 28 through intake opening 32. It is alsocontemplated that the cooperation of manipulators 19 with intake opening32 may perform one or more additional utilities for facilitating theoutput of consistent air/particulate mixtures. In one mode of operation,downstroke travel of piston 4 continues for a distance before actuatorrod 17 comes into contact with manipulators 19. In such mode, therefore,pressurized air in pump chamber 26 is developed before manipulators 19are actuated to move actuator arms 62 from closed position 84 to openposition 86. In some embodiments, such increased air pressure in pumpchamber 26 is sufficient to open separation valve 20, such thatpressurized air may pass through pickup chamber 28 and into dispensationchamber 30 prior to actuator rod 17 causing the opening of manipulatorarms 62. In such embodiment, solidous material 21 loaded into pickupchamber 28 through intake opening 32 in the previous pump cycle ispicked up by the airstream moving through pickup chamber 28, and carriedinto dispensation chamber 30 as an air, solid mixture. After theair/solid mixture has been dispensed out from dispensation chamber 30,continued downward movement of actuation rod 17 presses upon manipulatortabs 65 to pivotally rotate manipulator arms 62, and to correspondinglyremove distal ends 66 from a covering relationship with respect tointake opening 32. The opening motion of manipulator arms 62 distributesand, to an extent, homogenizes solidous material 21 with the subsequentclosing movement of manipulator arms 62 upon the release of downwardpressure against manipulator tabs 65 by actuator rod 17 causing distalends 66 to push solidous material 21 into uptake chamber 28 throughintake opening 32 as a loading operation for pickup by the airstream inthe subsequent pump cycle. In this manner, a substantially knownquantity of solidous material 21 may be loaded to pickup chamber 28 ineach pumping cycle through the action of the collectors formed by distalends 66 of manipulator arms 60. It may be a desired characteristic ofthe present invention to establish a known quantity of solidous material21 to be dispensed in each pump cycle, and the “collection” action ofdistal ends 66 of manipulator arms 62 to capture and collect solidousmaterial 21 in the opening and closing action cycle accomplishes theloading of a relatively consistent amount of solidous material 21 intopickup chamber 28.

In another mode of operation, actuator rod 17 contacts and actuatesmanipulator tabs 65 to open manipulator arms 62 simultaneously with thepassage of the pressurized airflow from pump chamber 26 through pickupchamber 28. In such operational mode, pressurized air developed in pumpchamber 26 is able to open and pass through separation valve 20substantially simultaneously with the opening of manipulator arms 62from closed position 84 to open position 86. Solidous material 21 isdrawn into intake opening 32 by a suction force generated as a result ofthe pressurized airstream traveling through connector portion 34 andinto dispensation chamber 30. This mode of operation is illustrated inFIG. 3 by the directional arrows of solidous material 21 entering pickupchamber 28 through intake opening 32.

The mode of operation of pump dispenser 1 may be driven as a result ofthe relationship of the length of actuator rod 17 and its position ofcontact in the actuation of manipulator 19 in relation to the traveldistance of piston 4 between top position 46 and bottom position 28. Itis to be understood that various modifications and customizations may bemade for the timing and extent of opening of intake opening 32 by theactuation of manipulator arm 62 with respect to the travel of piston 4between top position 46 and bottom position 48 in the pumping cycle.

Another aspect of the present invention is illustrated in FIGS. 1A, 1B,and 4, wherein at least a portion of dispensation chamber 30 is definedby a lumen of a flexible resilient member 10 that sealingly separatesdispensation chamber 30 from pump chamber 26 in a manner so that pumpchamber 26 is fluidly communicatable with dispensation chamber 30 onlythrough pickup chamber 28. Resilient tube 10 is of a characteristicwhich permits a sealing, air-tight connection to both piston rod portion42 of piston 4 and support column 88 of pump body 2. Thus, a sealedpassageway portion of dispensation chamber 30 may be defined byresilient tube 10 between support column 88 of pump body 2 and pistonrod portion 42 of piston 4. For the purposes hereof, the term “sealing”is intended to mean a substantially air-tight connection up to airpressures exerted upon components of pump dispenser 1 in its normaloperation. The substantially air-tight connection forming the “sealingengagement” between resilient tube 10 and piston 4 and between resilienttube 10 and support column 88 is therefore adequate to contain andconvey the mixed air/particulate solid air stream pressurized by thepumping action of piston 4 in pump chamber 26. The substantiallyair-tight sealing connection substantially prevents air leakage into orout from dispensation chamber 30 under the normal operating conditionsof pump dispenser 1.

To create the sealing connection described above, tube 10 is preferablysufficiently resilient to self-seal against the respective surfaces ofpiston rod portion 42 and support column 88 under a moderate radiallyexpansive force supplied by a scaffold 9 which, in the illustratedembodiment, is a coil spring placed under radial compression in thelumen of resilient tube 10. Scaffold 9 is preferably arranged to providea restorative radially outwardly-directed force that is sufficient topress resilient tube 10 into a sealing engagement with piston rodportion 42 of piston 4 and support column 88 of pump body 2. Scaffold 9may further be arranged to assist in maintaining open the lumen ofresilient tube 10 during the pumping cycle in which actuator rod head 78axially compresses scaffold 9, preferably against a restorative biasforce of scaffold 9, during the downstroke portion of the pump cycle.Due to the downward movement of actuator rod head 78 during thedownstroke of the pump cycle, resilient tube 10 is also preferablysufficiently flexible to permit a folding or wrinkling of resilient tube10 during the downstroke, only to be restored to its originalconfiguration upon completion of the upstroke toward top position 46. Insuch a manner, resilient tube 10 forms a sealing and flexible portion ofthe structure defining dispensation chamber 30 to accommodate themovement of actuator rod 17 through dispensation chamber 30. An examplematerial for resilient tube 10 is a silicone having an inner diameter ofabout 1-10 mm, and preferably between about 3-7 mm, and a wall thicknessof about 0.1-4 mm, and more preferably between about 0.2-1.5 mm. Suchparameters provide the desired extent of resilience and flexibility,which are an aspect of the present invention.

As described above, axial compression of scaffold 9 preferably generatesa restorative axial force urging actuator rod head 78 upwardly alongaxial direction 37. Scaffold 9 may be a distinct component positioned inthe lumen of resilient tube 10, or may instead be incorporated within orradially external to resilient tube 10. Moreover, it is contemplatedthat resilient tube 10 may assume configurations other than acylindrical tube, and may have only portions of which exhibit resilientand/or flexible properties. It is to be understood that resilient tube10 is contemplated as defining a flexible portion of the structuredefining dispensation chamber 30 to accommodate the movement of actuatorrod 17 with respect to dispensation chamber 30.

An example alternative embodiment for the combination of resilient tube10 and scaffold 9 is illustrated in FIG. 8, wherein flexible tube 110 isengaged to actuator rod 17 through resilient plugs 112 to define aportion of dispensation chamber 30, and to sealingly separatedispensation chamber 30 from pump chamber 26 in a similar manner as thatdescribed above. Resilient plugs 112 may preferably have an innerdiameter that is substantially equal to an outer diameter of actuatorrod 17, so as to frictionally and resiliently engage an outer diametersurface of actuator rod 17, with a first resilient plug 112 beingpositioned at actuator rod head 78 of actuator rod 17, and a secondresilient plug 112 being positioned at support column 88 of pump body 2.Resilient plugs 112 may be fabricated from a rubber or other materialthat exhibits elastomeric-type properties of resiliently engagingactuator rod 17 and flexible tube 110.

As illustrated in FIG. 8, flexible tube 110 may have an “accordion” typeconfiguration to facilitate axial compression and expansion in responseto the pump cycle, as described above. In one example embodiment,flexible tube 110 may be fabricated from a relatively thin-walledpolyethylene, such as low density polyethylene. End sections 114 offlexible tube 110 may be frictionally engaged with resilient plugmembers 112, and sealingly engaged between plug members 112 and arespective one of piston 4 and support column 88.

Another aspect of the present invention includes a nozzle member 15having a channel 90 extending therethrough for dispensing theair/solidous material mixture out from dispensation chamber 30. In theillustrated embodiment, nozzle member 15 may be selectively movable tobring channel 90 into and out from communication with dispensationchamber 30 in cap 3. In the closed condition for nozzle member 15illustrated in FIGS. 1A, 5B, and 6A, wall 92 substantially or completelyblocks an outlet 94 of dispensation chamber 30 in cap 3. When pivoted toan open condition, nozzle member 15 presents channel 90 to outlet 94 ofdispensation chamber 30, as illustrated in FIGS. 5A and 6B, to permitdispensation of the air/solidous material flow stream out from pumpdispenser 1. Nozzle member 15 may be pivotally secured to cap bracket 96with a pivot nodule 98 extending through cap bracket recess 99. Thepivoting motion of nozzle member 15 is depicted by directional arrow 97.

An advantage introduced the pivoting nozzle member 15 is the capabilityto easily close off outlet 94 of dispensation chamber 30, so as toinhibit or prevent moisture or other environmental element intrusionfrom the exterior environment into dispensation chamber 30, and, moreimportantly, to the solidous material-containing cavity 22. In someembodiments, pump dispenser 1 may be employed to operably dispensetalcum powder, the physical properties of which may be significantlyaltered in high moisture environments. Therefore, it may be a usefulfunction of pump dispenser 1 to limit the accessibility of moisture tosolidous material 1 in container 12. The capability of nozzle member 15to pivot into a positioning in which wall 92 closes outlet 94 ofdispensation chamber 30 creates a closed environment for solidousmaterial 21 that minimizes moisture or other environmental elementintrusion to cavity 22.

Another utility of pivotable nozzle member 15 is illustrated in FIGS. 6Aand 6B, wherein wall 92 of nozzle member 15 may be pivoted into a closedcondition to prevent actuation of pump dispenser 1. In particular, theclose condition of nozzle member 15 positions wall 92 for contact withupper surface 95 of connector 6. In the event that cap 3 is attempted tobe pushed downwardly, as in the downstroke of a pump cycle, contactbetween wall 92 and upper surface 95 of connector 6 prevents or stopsdownward motion of cap 3. In some embodiments, the configuration ofnozzle member 15 places wall 92 substantially in contact with uppersurface 95 of connector 6 when piston 4 is in top position 46. Such anarrangement establishes a “lock”, in which nozzle member 15 preventsdownward motion of cap 3 when nozzle member 15 is in a closed condition.In other embodiments, however, the closed condition of nozzle member 15permits some downward motion of cap 3, but arrests such downward motionbetween top position 46 and bottom position 48. FIG. 6B illustratesnozzle member 15 in an open condition with channel 90 in fluidcommunication with outlet 94 of dispensation chamber 30 in cap 3. Thepositioning of nozzle member 15 in an open condition, as illustrated inFIG. 6B, permits downward movement of cap 3, as depicted by directionalarrow 91, in the downstroke of the pump cycle to create a pressurizedair stream to dispense the air/product mixture out from nozzle member15.

Another embodiment of the invention is illustrated in FIGS. 7A and 7B,wherein a nozzle cap 104 may be pivotally secured to cap bracket 96 toselectively open and close outlet 94 of dispensation chamber 30 at cap3.

In addition to the forgoing, the operation of pump dispenser 1 will bedescribed with reference to the drawings. Initially, nozzle member 15 isrotated along direction 97 from a closed condition to an open conditionto permit downward movement of cap 3, and to present channel 90 intocommunication with dispensation chamber 30 at cap 3. When a downwardforce along directional arrow 91 is placed upon cap 3, such force istransmitted by cap shoulder 72 to piston head platform 70 to therebytransfer the downward axial motion along directional arrow 37 to piston4. Such downward motion is also transmitted from piston rod shoulder 76to actuator rod head 78 so that actuator rod 17 also proceeds axiallydownward along directional arrow 37.

As piston 4 proceeds axially downwardly in the pump downstroke, airpressure in pump chamber 26 increases to a point at which separationvalve 20 opens to permit the passage of air into pickup chamber 28. Aspiston 4 and actuator rod 17 continue downward movement, actuator rodend portion 80 comes into contact with, and pushes manipulator tab 65downwardly to cause manipulators 19 to pivot about manipulator pivot 60.As manipulators 19 operate, an amount of solidous material 21 entersinto pickup chamber 28 through intake opening 32, wherein thepressurized air stream motivates the solidous material into a mixedair/solidous material flow stream into dispensation chamber 30.Continued air pressure forces the flow stream mixture out through outlet94 and channel 90 of nozzle member 15, as illustrated in FIG. 6B.Removal of the force upon cap 3 permits first and second bias members 8,13, and scaffold 9, to restoratively urge piston 4, actuator rod 17, andmanipulator tabs 65 upwardly to place manipulator arm distal end 66 in acovering relationship with intake opening 32, and to urge piston 4 andactuator rod 17 toward to position 46. The negative air pressure createdin pump chamber 26 as a result of the expanding volume in pump chamber26 forces open air intake valve 7 to permit external environment air toenter into pump chamber 26 to substantially equalize internal andexternal pressures. As piston 4 and actuator rod 17 reach top position46, pump dispenser 1 is ready for a subsequent pumping action.

The invention has been described herein in considerable detail in orderto comply with the patent statutes, and to provide those skilled in theart with the information needed to apply the novel principles and toconstruct and use embodiments of the invention as required. However, itis to be understood that various modifications may be accomplishedwithout departing from the scope of the invention itself.

What is claimed is:
 1. A pump dispenser for dispensing material under amanually-developed pressure, said dispenser comprising: a containerdefining a cavity for storing the material; a pump body positionable insaid cavity and having a pump chamber, a pickup chamber, and adispensation chamber, and a central axis defining mutually perpendicularaxial and radial directions, said pump body including an intake openingcommunicating said cavity with said pickup chamber; a piston positionedat said pump chamber and slidably engaged to said pump body, said pistonbeing axially movable in said pump chamber, and including an air inletaperture; an air intake valve regulating airflow through said air inletaperture; a manipulator movably secured to said pump body at amanipulator actuation portion, said manipulator including an arm with adistal end configured to cooperate with said intake opening for passageof the material into said pickup chamber through said intake opening;and an actuator rod axially movable to actuate said manipulator tothereby movably operate said manipulator arm.
 2. A pump dispenser as inclaim 1 wherein said piston is axially movable against a first biasmember urging said piston toward a top position.
 3. A pump dispenser asin claim 2, including a cap for transmitting moving force to saidpiston.
 4. A pump dispenser as in claim 3 wherein said cap includes anozzle member having a channel extending therethrough for dispensing thematerial out from said dispensation chamber, said nozzle member beingselectively movable to bring said channel into and out fromcommunication with said dispensation chamber.
 5. A pump dispenser as inclaim 4 wherein a closed condition of said nozzle member substantiallycloses an outlet of said dispensation chamber.
 6. A pump dispenser as inclaim 2 wherein said actuator rod is axially movable in saiddispensation chamber.
 7. A pump dispenser as in claim 1 wherein saidmanipulator is pivotable about a pivot axis that is perpendicular tosaid central axis.
 8. A pump dispenser as in claim 7 wherein saidactuator rod is axially movable to actuate said manipulator about saidpivot axis against a second bias member urging said manipulator armtoward a closed position.
 9. A pump dispenser as in claim 8 wherein saiddistal end of said manipulator arm at least partially covers said intakeopening when said manipulator arm is in said closed position.
 10. A pumpdispenser as in claim 1, including a connector portion communicatingsaid pickup chamber with said dispensation chamber.
 11. A pump dispenseras in claim 1 wherein said air intake valve is a one-way valvepermitting air flow into said pump chamber.
 12. A pump dispenser as inclaim 1, including a separation valve regulating air flow between saidpump chamber and said pickup chamber, with said separation valve being aone-way valve permitting air flow into said pickup chamber.
 13. A pumpdispenser, comprising: a container defining a cavity for storing adispensable material; a pump body positionable in said cavity and havinga pump chamber fluidly communicatable with a pickup chamber that isfluidly communicatable with a dispensation chamber, wherein at least aportion of said dispensation chamber is defined by a lumen of a flexiblemember to sealingly separate said dispensation chamber from said pumpchamber, so that said pump chamber is fluidly communicatable with saiddispensation chamber only through said pickup chamber, said pump bodyfurther including an intake opening communicating said cavity with saidpickup chamber, and a central axis defining mutually perpendicular axialand radial directions; and a piston positioned at said pump chamber andslidably engaged with said pump body, said piston being axially movablein said pump chamber in a first axial direction to force airflow intosaid pickup chamber to an extent sufficient to carry the dispensablematerial through said dispensation chamber.
 14. A pump dispenser as inclaim 13, including a scaffold radially supporting said flexible memberto maintain open said lumen.
 15. A pump dispenser as in claim 14 whereinsaid scaffold is disposed in said lumen in contact with said flexiblemember.